Recall the year 1849. A mission began in Bayswater driven by Cardinal Wiseman’s vision. He saw a need for a Catholic church. Paddington Station was being built. Its laborers were mainly Irish Catholic. Wiseman asked Henry Manning to undertake the task. This marked the humble beginnings of St Mary of the Angels.
Construction started in 1851. Thomas Meyer designed it in the Puginian Gothic style. Meyer also built St Joseph’s Church in Avon Dassett. Work paused due to lack of funds. Henry Clutton, Manning’s relative, completed it in 1857. John Francis Bentley added to it later. Meyer designed a school chapel on Moorhouse Road too. The church was first dedicated to St Helen. Helen Hargrave was a benefactor.
Let’s delve into the story of its dedication. The dedication to St Mary of the Angels reflects Manning’s devotion. It also honors St Charles to St Francis of Assisi. It is a translation of the famous Assisi church Santa Maria degli Angeli, in Italy.
In 1869 J F Bentley added a north aisle with an eastern chapel. He had been articled to Clutton. These included altars to St Joseph and the Sacred Heart. Bentley got his first independent commission at St Francis of Assisi, Notting Hill. Fr H A Rawes was Superior of the Oblate Congregation from 1880. This period began over three decades of work by Bentley. It stands as a case study of his stylistic development. The north aisle is C13 French Gothic.
Bentley added a south aisle with a Lady Chapel in 1872-74. This showed his interest in Early English Gothic. Bentley also added a timber roof. It covered the nave, chancel and aisles. He plastered the painted brick walls. Bentley designed the iron gates to the baptistery. He designed the Chapel of SS Helen and Mary Magdalene. It formerly held timber cupboards painted by NHJ Westlake. They held relics brought from Rome.
The north aisle was extended in 1887. It was in late Decorated style. This created an additional chapel. Bentley added furnishings and stained glass windows. The presbytery was built around 1870. Clutton or SJ Nicholl may have designed it. A new altar was installed in the St Charles chapel in 1903. FW Tasker designed it. George Powell furnished the Chapel of the Holy Ghost in 1912. Jones & Willis installed a new alabaster high altar in 1914. It contains the body of St Faustulus. Mr Weir added a new oak pulpit in 1923.
In 1974 the Oblates left. The parish was handed to the Archdiocese. A glazed narthex screen was installed. The aisle floors were repaved. Disabled access was improved by architect Jane Ferra. Ormesby of Scarisbrick installed a new altar. IFACS redecorated the interior. The church was reconsecrated on 4 November 2007.
Consider the architecture. St Mary of the Angels is a large stone church. It occupies a corner site on Moorhouse Road. Thomas Meyer began it in 1851. Henry Clutton resumed building in 1857. JF Bentley added outer aisles and side chapels between 1869 and 1887.
The church is in the Geometric Gothic-Revival style. A robust four-stage tower dominates. The belfry stage was added around 1920. The roofs are double pitched over the nave and aisles. The chancel has a lower ridge line.
Inside St Mary of the Angels the six-bay nave is tall and narrow. It gives onto double aisles. The inner arcades have limestone columns. The north outer aisle has circular columns. The south outer aisle is similar. The nave has a stained timber roof.
Let’s consider the furnishings. The former baptistery has iron railings by Bentley. The north aisle has a marble altar to St Joseph. Bentley designed it in 1874. Westlake painted the reredos. The Sacred Heart altar has mosaics of the Virgin Mary. The St Charles Borromeo Chapel was added by Bentley in 1887.
Today St Mary of the Angels stands as a testament. It reflects faith, art and community. Its stones whisper stories of those who built it. They also tell of those who have worshiped within its walls. Take a moment to appreciate its beauty. Reflect on its enduring legacy.